EP1346835B1 - Mechanismus zur Detektion des Tintenpegels durch elektrischen Widerstand und Verfahren zur Bestimmung des Tintenpegels - Google Patents

Mechanismus zur Detektion des Tintenpegels durch elektrischen Widerstand und Verfahren zur Bestimmung des Tintenpegels Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1346835B1
EP1346835B1 EP03251147A EP03251147A EP1346835B1 EP 1346835 B1 EP1346835 B1 EP 1346835B1 EP 03251147 A EP03251147 A EP 03251147A EP 03251147 A EP03251147 A EP 03251147A EP 1346835 B1 EP1346835 B1 EP 1346835B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ink
reservoir
sensor
container
replaceable
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
EP03251147A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP1346835A1 (de
Inventor
Roger R. Sleger
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
HP Inc
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Hewlett Packard Co
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Publication date
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Publication of EP1346835A1 publication Critical patent/EP1346835A1/de
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Publication of EP1346835B1 publication Critical patent/EP1346835B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/1752—Mounting within the printer
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/17513—Inner structure
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17566—Ink level or ink residue control
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17566—Ink level or ink residue control
    • B41J2002/17579—Measuring electrical impedance for ink level indication

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to ink jet printing devices.
  • the present invention is an inkjet cartridge including an ink level sensing mechanism having a pair of spaced electrical probes, wherein a change in electrical resistance measured between the electrical probes provides a reliable and accurate indication of a low ink condition in the ink reservoir of the ink container.
  • Ink jet printing systems frequently make use of an ink jet printhead mounted within a carriage that is moved back and forth across print media, such as paper. As the printhead is moved across the print media, a control system activates the printhead to deposit or eject ink droplets onto the print media to form images and text. Ink is provided to the printhead by a supply of ink that is either carried by the carriage or mounted to the printing system such that the supply of ink does not move with the carriage.
  • the ink supply can be in fluid communication with the printhead to replenish the printhead or the printhead can be intermittently connected with the ink supply by positioning the printhead proximate to a filling station to which the ink supply is connected whereupon the printhead is replenished with ink from the refilling station.
  • the ink supply may be integral with the printhead whereupon the entire printhead and ink supply is replaced when ink is exhausted.
  • the ink supply can be carried with the carriage and be separately replaceable from the printhead or drop ejection portion.
  • Attended business applications also commonly need to know if the ink supply is getting low, such that the ink supply, or ink cartridge, can be replenished before it actually runs out of ink. Therefore, it is important that the printing system be capable of reliably identifying a condition in which the ink supply is nearly or completely exhausted.
  • the identification of the condition of a nearly or completely exhausted ink supply should be accurate, reliable, and relatively low cost, thereby tending to reduce the cost of the ink supply and the printing system.
  • Mohr et al. is directed to an ink container that includes a housing within which is provided a capillary reservoir for storing a quantity of ink.
  • the capillary reservoir has stippling where there is ink and no stippling where there is no ink.
  • On one end of the ink container housing is an ink outlet.
  • An ink level sensor is provided on one surface of the ink container housing.
  • the ink level sensor comprises a C-shaped, transparent, ink level sensing tube with a first or upper port a first distance above the ink outlet and a second or lower port a shorter distance above the ink outlet. Both the upper and lower ports are ported through the ink container housing to the capillary reservoir.
  • the C-shaped tube of the ink level sensor In operation, as long as the ink level is above the upper port, the C-shaped tube of the ink level sensor is full of ink and is in static equilibrium. However, when the ink level reaches the upper port, the ink is sucked from the C-shaped tube of the ink level sensor and into the capillary reservoir due to an imbalance in the capillary pressures at the ink/air interfaces between the capillary reservoir and the upper port. The resulting sudden (i.e., instantaneous) depletion of ink in the C-shaped tube of the ink level sensor provides an almost instantaneous binary fluid level indicator.
  • a light detecting sensing device positioned adjacent to the C-shaped tube, can detect when the tube is empty (i.e., detect the binary fluid level indicator), whereupon the printing system can notify a user of the low ink condition of the ink reservoir of the ink container.
  • the above described binary ink level sensor provides a reliable and accurate indication of a low ink level within the ink reservoir of the ink container
  • drawbacks to this ink level sensing system One drawback concerns the use of the transparent C-shaped tube.
  • This C-shaped tube is somewhat fragile, and because this tube extends out away from the housing of the ink container, it is somewhat susceptible to inadvertent damage during handling of the ink container. Damage to this tube may affect the overall operation and accuracy of the ink level sensing system and may result in unwanted ink leakage from the ink container.
  • the C-shaped tube extends out away from the housing of the ink container, it can become soiled during handling of the ink container by a user.
  • the ink container comprises an ink reservoir for containing a supply of ink.
  • the ink reservoir includes a capillary ink storage member.
  • the ink container further comprises an ink level sensor for determining an amount of ink in the ink reservoir.
  • the ink level sensor includes first and second resistance probes in fluid communication with the supply of ink and free from contact with the capillary ink storage member. A change in electrical resistance measured across the first and second probes indicates the amount of ink in the ink reservoir.
  • the ink reservoir includes a partition wall dividing the ink reservoir into two chambers.
  • the capillary ink storage member is disposed within one of these chambers, whereas the first and second resistance probes are disposed along a side wall of the other chamber.
  • the ink container comprises an ink reservoir for containing a supply of ink.
  • the ink reservoir includes a partition wall dividing the reservoir into two chambers.
  • a capillary ink storage member is disposed in one of those chambers.
  • the ink container also comprises an ink level sensor for determining an amount of ink in the ink reservoir.
  • the ink level sensor includes first and second resistance probes. The first resistance probe is in contact with the capillary ink storage member. The second probe is in fluid communication with the supply of ink in the other chamber of the reservoir. The first and second resistance probes are positioned in first and second sensor ports respectively. A change in electrical existence measured across the first and second probes indicates the amount of ink in the ink reservoir.
  • an ink container employing an ink level sensing mechanism that allows a printing system to reliably and accurately determine the ink level within an ink reservoir of the ink container.
  • the ink level sensing mechanism of the ink container should provide an accurate indication of a low ink level within the ink container, and should not be easily soiled or susceptible to damage during routine handling by a user.
  • the ink container should be relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture.
  • the present invention is a replaceable ink container for providing ink to a printhead of a printing system.
  • the ink container includes an ink reservoir for containing a supply of ink, and an ink level sensor for determining an amount of ink in the ink reservoir.
  • the ink reservoir includes a capillary ink storage member.
  • the ink level sensor includes first and second resistance probes in fluid communication with the supply of ink and free from contact with the capillary ink storage member.
  • the first resistance probe is positioned within the first sensor port in fluid communication with the ink reservoir.
  • the second resistance probe is positioned in a a second sensor port in fluid communication with the ink reservoir.
  • Ink/air interfaces are defined between the capillary member and the respective ports. A change in electrical resistance measured across the first and second probes indicated the amount of ink in the ink reservoir.
  • FIG. I depicts a schematic representation of an inkjet printing system 10 which includes a replaceable inkjet container or cartridge (otherwise known as an inkjet pen) 12 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the ink cartridge 12 includes a housing 14 within which is an ink reservoir 16 for containing a supply of ink 18.
  • the ink reservoir 16 is defined by a capillary ink storage member 20.
  • the ink reservoir 16 has dashed horizontal lines where there is ink and no dashed horizontal lines where there is no ink.
  • On one end of the housing 14 is an ink outlet otherwise known as a fluid outlet 22 which is in fluid communication with the ink reservoir 16.
  • the fluid outlet 22 is in fluid communication with an inkjet printhead 24 for the printing system 10.
  • the printhead 24 is defined by a nozzle plate 26 having a plurality of ink ejection nozzles 28.
  • the ink reservoir 16 of the replaceable ink cartridge 12 provides ink 18 via the fluid outlet 22 to the ink ejection nozzles 28 of the nozzle plate 26 for ejection as ink drops 30 onto print media 32, such as paper.
  • the ink reservoir 16 is shown integral with the printhead 24, such that the entire printhead 24 and ink reservoir 16 is replaced when ink is exhausted, alternatively, the ink reservoir 16 can be separately replaceable from the printhead 24.
  • the fluid outlet 22 would generally be defined by a conduit that is typically flexible.
  • the fluid outlet 22 typically forms part of a releasable fluid interconnect for directly connecting the ink reservoir 16 to the printhead 24, or a releasable fluid interconnect for connecting the ink reservoir 16 to a portion of a manifold that receives the ink reservoir 16 and is in turn connected to the printhead 24 through the manifold.
  • the replaceable ink cartridge 12 is releasably insertable into a receiving station 34 of the inkjet printing system 10.
  • the receiving station includes a first set of electrical contacts otherwise known as a pair of ink level sensor electrical contacts 36, and a second set of electrical contacts otherwise known as printhead electrical contacts 38.
  • the pair ink level sensor electrical contacts 36 are linked by way of a first signal transmission line 40 to printer control electronics 42 of the printing system 10.
  • the printhead electrical contacts 38 are linked by way of a second signal transmission line 44 to printer control electronics 42 of the printing system 10.
  • the printer control electronics 42 control various printing system 10 functions such as, but not limited to, printhead 24 activation to dispense ink and notification of a printing system 10 user of a low ink condition within the ink cartridge 12.
  • the ink level sensor electrical contacts 36 of the receiving station 34 engage first and second, ink level sensor electrical resistance probes 48 and 50, respectively, of an ink level sensing mechanism 52 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the ink level sensing mechanism 52 determines an amount (i.e., volume) of ink 18 with the ink cartridge 12. In particular, the ink level sensing mechanism 52, which will be described more fully below, precisely senses a low ink level condition of the ink reservoir 16 of the ink cartridge 12.
  • the first and second resistance probes 48 and 50 are mounted on a bottom wall 54 of the housing 14 of the ink cartridge 12.
  • This bottom wall 54 is orthogonal to a front side wall 56 of the housing 14 that includes the nozzle plate 26 of the printhead 24.
  • the fluid outlet 22 is also located in this side wall 56.
  • the first and second resistance probes 48, 50 are positioned on the housing 14 below the fluid outlet 22.
  • the bottom wall 54 includes first and second sensor ports 58 and 60, respectfully, that are in fluid communication with the ink reservoir 16.
  • Each of the first and second sensor ports 58, 60 is defined by a cylindrical aperture that extends through the bottom wall 54 from an exterior surface 62 to an interior surface 64 of the housing 14.
  • the first resistance probe 48 is positioned in the first sensor port 58, while the second resistance probe 50 is positioned in the second sensor port 60.
  • the first and second resistance probes 48, 50 are force fit into the first and second sensor ports 58, 60, and thereby are retained in the sensor ports 58, 60 by way of a tight interference fit that also prevents fluid leakage from the ink reservoir 16.
  • the sensor ports 58, 60 and thereby the resistance probes 48, 50 are symmetrically located off of a centerline 66 of the housing 14 of the ink cartridge 12. Moreover, the sensor ports 58, 60 and thereby the resistance probes 48, 50 form a line 68 that is parallel with the front side wall 56 of the housing 14. As such the resistance probes 48, 50 (and sensor ports 58, 60) are equally spaced from the nozzle plate 26 of the printhead 24 and the fluid outlet 22.
  • the first and second resistance probes 48 and 50 are separated by a distance D1 of 3.18 mm (0.125”) (see FIG. 2C) and are spaced from the front side wall 56 by a distance D2 of 15.2 mm (0.60”) (see FIG. 2C).
  • the sensor ports 58, 60 allow mounting of the first and second resistance probes 48, 50 to the housing 14 such that the resistance probes 48, 50 are in fluid communication with the supply of ink 18, but free from any contact with the capillary ink storage member 20.
  • a change in electrical resistance imparted to and measured across the resistance probes 48, 50 by the printer control electronics 42 indicates the amount (i.e., volume) of ink 18 in the ink reservoir 16.
  • the electrical resistance measured across the first and second resistance probes 48, 50 by the printer control electronics 42 indicates a low ink condition in the ink reservoir 16.
  • the first and second resistance probes 48, 50 protrude from the exterior surface 62 of the bottom wall 54 of the housing 14 such that the resistance probes 48, 50 define a pair of electrical contacts for engaging the corresponding ink level sensor electrical contacts 36 of the receiving station 34 when the ink cartridge 12 is inserted into the receiving station of the printing system 10.
  • each of the first and second resistance probes 48, 50 is a sphere made of metal, such as steel.
  • Each sphere has a diameter of 1.52 mm (0.060") and protrudes 38.1 ⁇ m (0.0015") from the exterior surface 62 of the bottom wall 54.
  • FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 depict the ink level sensing mechanism 52 in an "ON” state
  • FIGS. 5 and 7 depict the ink level sensing mechanism 52 in an "OFF” state.
  • both of the sensor ports 58, 60 are full of ink 18.
  • In the "OFF” state at least one and possible both of the sensor ports 58, 60 is drained (i.e., free) of ink 18 which indicates a low level ink condition of the ink reservoir 16 of the ink cartridge 12.
  • the electrical resistance measured across the first and second resistance probes 48, 50 is low since the sensor ports 58, 60 are full of ink 18.
  • the electrical resistance measured across the first and second resistance probes 48, 50 is high since at least one of the sensor ports 58, 60 and possibly both sensor ports 58, 60 is free of ink 18.
  • FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 depict the ink cartridge 12 of the present invention having an ink level, otherwise known as an ink front 70.
  • the ink front 70 is a dividing line between an ink filled portion 72 of the capillary ink storage member 20 and an ink empty portion 74 of the capillary ink storage member 20.
  • the sensor ports 58, 60 of the ink level sensing mechanism 52 are full of ink and in static equilibrium. In other words, the ink level sensing mechanism 52 is in the "ON" state.
  • the ink is sucked from the respective sensor port or ports 58, 60 of the ink level sensing mechanism 52 and into the capillary ink storage member 20 due to an imbalance in the capillary pressures at the ink/air interfaces between the capillary member 20 and the respective sensor port or ports 58, 60.
  • the resulting sudden (i.e., instantaneous) depletion of ink in the sensor port or ports 58, 60 of the ink level sensing mechanism 52 provides a binary fluidic indicator.
  • the electrical resistance measured across the first and second resistance probes 48, 50 immediately increases and the ink level sensing mechanism 52 immediately goes from the "ON" state to the "OFF” state indicating a low level ink condition for the ink cartridge 12.
  • the use of the term “binary” to describe the ink level sensing mechanism 52 is immediately detected by the printer control electronics 42, whereupon the printer control electronics 42 can notify a user of the low ink condition of the ink reservoir 16 and/or through calculations and estimation, an out of ink condition of the ink reservoir 16 of the ink cartridge 12.
  • the logic diagram shown depicts one manner a printing system 10 can determine the remaining ink level (i.e., remaining ink volume) within the replaceable ink cartridge 12 using the ink level sensing mechanism 52 to ultimately notify a user of an out of ink condition.
  • the printing system 10 Upon power up or when a print job starts (step 80), the printing system 10 calculates the ink level remaining in the ink reservoir 16 of the ink cartridge 12 (step 82). This calculation of ink remaining is estimated by the printing system 10 in a known manner using drop volume coefficients and drop counting at the printhead 24 by way of the printer control electronics 42. In particular, the printing system 10 nominally knows how much ink is in the ink cartridge 12 at a first printing.
  • the printing system 10 counts the drops that are fired by the printhead 24, and calculates the estimated amount of ink used from that drop count and knowledge of the amount of ink per drop. This estimate of ink used is then subtracted from the starting estimate of ink remaining in the cartridge 12, and the resulting value is stored as the amount of ink remaining in the cartridge 12 (step 82).
  • the printing system 10 can operate.
  • the printing system 10 operates by carrying out print jobs.
  • the ink level remaining in the ink cartridge 12 is recalculated such that the cartridge 12 constantly maintains a running estimate of the ink remaining within the reservoir 16 (step 84).
  • This estimate of ink remaining within the ink cartridge 12 is not precise due variations in fill level within the container and variations in drop weight and drop count.
  • step 86 the electrical resistance across the first and second resistance probes 48, 50 is constantly measured by the printer control electronics 42 (step 86).
  • step 88 if there is ink 18 in both of the sensor ports 58, 60 indicating an "ON" state of the ink level sensing mechanism 52 (i.e., if at least one or both of the ports 58, 60 is not drained of ink so as to produce the "OFF" state indicator) which indicates that there is not a low ink condition within the ink reservoir 16, the printing system 10 can continue to operate and recycle through steps 84, 86 and 88.
  • the printer control electronics 42 knows that the capillary member 20 is approximately 70% depleted of ink 18 and that the ink front 70 is coincident with at least one of the ports 58, 60.
  • the printing system 10 knows how much ink remains in the capillary member 20, since these values are programmed into the printing system 10 at manufacture.
  • the printing system 10 can notify a user of a low ink condition (step 90) of the ink cartridge 12 so that the user has adequate time to purchase a replacement ink container before the current ink cartridge 12 runs out of ink.
  • the printing system 10 can re-set or re-calibrate the ink level remaining estimate of the ink cartridge 12 which has been accounting all along (step 92). In other words, the estimate is replaced at that point with a known value. At this point, the printing system 10 can continue to operate and perform print jobs (step 94). At the end of each print job, the ink level remaining in the ink cartridge 12 is recalculated, as described previously, by estimating the amount of ink used from the drop count and knowledge of the amount of ink per drop, such that the cartridge 12 constantly maintains a running estimate of the ink remaining within the reservoir 16 (step 96).
  • step 98 if based upon these calculations and estimations the printer control electronics 42 determines that the ink cartridge 12 still has ink remaining (i.e., that there is not an out of ink condition), the printing system 10 can continue to operate and recycle through steps 94, 96 and 98. However, if at step 98 the printer control electronics 98 determines through calculation and estimations that the ink cartridge 12 has no ink remaining (i.e., that there is an out of ink condition), the printing system 10 by way of the printer control electronics 42 notifies a user of the out of ink condition (step 100) and ceases operation (step 102) until the empty ink cartridge 12 is replaced with an ink cartridge containing a sufficient amount of ink for printing.
  • a low ink condition within the ink cartridge 12 has been described as approximately 30% of ink remaining in the ink reservoir 16, it is to be understood that other values can be used to indicate a low ink condition.
  • forming the ports 58, 60 (in the bottom wall 54) closer to the fluid outlet 22 results in a low ink condition indication of less than 30% of ink remaining, while forming the ports 58, 60 further from the fluid outlet 22 results in a low ink condition indication of greater than 30% of ink remaining in the ink reservoir 16.
  • This ink cartridge 12 employing an electrical resistance ink level sensing mechanism 52 allows a printing system 10 to reliably and accurately determine the ink level within the ink reservoir 16 of the ink cartridge 12.
  • first and second sensor port 58, 60 mounted electrical resistance probes 48, 50 allows a low ink condition of the ink reservoir 16 to be immediately determined by a change in electrical resistance measured across the probes 48, 50 as a result of at least one of the sensor ports 58, 60 becoming free of ink 18.
  • the resistance probes 48, 50 perform both an ink level sensing function and an electrical connection function with the printing system 10, resulting in a reduction in parts and complexity.
  • the resistance probes 48, 50 are metal spheres that only protrude a limited distance from the exterior surface 62 of the ink cartridge housing 14, they are less susceptible to being soiled or damaged during routine handling of the replaceable ink cartridge 12 by a user.
  • the metal spheres that define the resistance probes 48, 50 are interference fit (i.e., force fit) into the sensor ports 58, 60, the ink cartridge 12 employing the ink level sensing mechanism 52 of the present invention is relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

Claims (8)

  1. Ein austauschbarer Tintenbehälter (12) zum Liefern von Tinte an einen Druckkopf (24) eines Drucksystems (10), wobei der Tintenbehälter folgende Merkmale umfasst:
    ein Tintenreservoir (16) zum Aufnehmen eines Tintenvorrats (18), wobei das Tintenreservoir ein kapillares Tintenspeicherbauglied (20) umfasst; und
    einen Tintenpegelsensor (52) zum Bestimmen einer Tintenmenge in dem Tintenreservoir, wobei der Tintenpegelsensor folgende Merkmale umfasst:
    eine erste und ein zweite Widerstandssonde (48, 50) in Fluidkommunikation mit dem Tintenvorrat und frei von Kontakt mit dem kapillaren Tintenspeicherbauglied,
    ein erstes Sensortor (58) in Fluidkommunikation mit dem Tintenreservoir (16), wobei die erste Widerstandssonde (48) in dem ersten Sensortor positioniert ist; und
    ein zweites Sensortor (60) in Fluidkommunikation mit dem Tintenreservoir (16), wobei die zweite Sensorsonde (50) in dem zweiten Sensortor positioniert ist, wobei Tinte/Luft-Schnittstellen zwischen dem Kapillarbauglied (20) und den jeweiligen Toren (58, 60) definiert sind, wobei eine Änderung bei dem elektrischen Widerstand, der über die erste und zweite Sonde gemessen wird, die Tintenmenge in dem Tintenreservoir anzeigt.
  2. Der austauschbare Tintenbehälter (12) gemäß Anspruch 1, bei dem sich das erste und das zweite Sensortor (58, 60) von einer Außenoberfläche (62) zu einer Innenoberfläche (64) durch das Tintenreservoir (16) erstrecken.
  3. Der austauschbare Tintenbehälter (12) gemäß Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2, bei dem das Tintenreservoir (16) einen Fluidauslass (22) umfasst, und bei dem das erste und das zweite Sensortor (58, 60) den gleichen Abstand zu dem Fluidauslass aufweisen.
  4. Der austauschbare Tintenbehälter (12) gemäß Anspruch 3, bei dem der Fluidauslass (22) eine Mehrzahl von Tintenausstoßdüsen (28) des Druckkopfs (24) ist.
  5. Der austauschbare Tintenbehälter (12) gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem die erste und die zweite Widerstandssonde (48, 50) von einer Außenoberfläche (62) des Tintenreservoirs (16) vorstehen, um ein Paar von elektrischen Kontakten zu definieren, zum Ineingriffnehmen eines entsprechenden Paars von elektrischen Kontakten (36), wenn der austauschbare Tintenbehälter in das Drucksystem (10) eingefügt wird.
  6. Der austauschbare Tintenbehälter (12) gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem die erste und die zweite Widerstandssonde (48, 50) eine erste beziehungsweise eine zweite Metallkugel ist.
  7. Der austauschbare Tintenbehälter (12) gemäß Anspruch 6, bei dem die erste und die zweite Kugel (48, 50) durch eine Presspassung in dem ersten und zweiten Sensortor (58, 60) befestigt sind.
  8. Der austauschbare Tintenbehälter (12) gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem die Änderung bei dem elektrischen Widerstand, der über die erste und die zweite Sonde (48, 50) gemessen wird, einen niedrigen Tintenzustand in dem Tintenreservoir (16) anzeigt.
EP03251147A 2002-03-19 2003-02-26 Mechanismus zur Detektion des Tintenpegels durch elektrischen Widerstand und Verfahren zur Bestimmung des Tintenpegels Expired - Fee Related EP1346835B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/100,646 US6554382B1 (en) 2002-03-19 2002-03-19 Ink container electrical resistance ink level sensing mechanism and method for determining ink level information
US100646 2002-03-19

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EP1346835A1 EP1346835A1 (de) 2003-09-24
EP1346835B1 true EP1346835B1 (de) 2006-12-27

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EP (1) EP1346835B1 (de)
DE (1) DE60310631T2 (de)

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US7988265B2 (en) * 2006-07-27 2011-08-02 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Air detection in inkjet pens
US8091993B2 (en) * 2008-05-22 2012-01-10 Videojet Technologies Inc. Ink containment system and ink level sensing system for an inkjet cartridge
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DE60310631D1 (de) 2007-02-08
DE60310631T2 (de) 2007-08-30
EP1346835A1 (de) 2003-09-24

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